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Praising God or being God's praise

1. Peter 2:9b&12b
"(...) who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
"(...) they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

The apostle Peter says that God took us out of darkness so that we can show His praise to people. HE does not want us only to praise HIM with our lips, but rather to praise HIM with our lives.

The fruit of our lips (our praise) should not be neglected but our everyday lives can praise Him even more. To know the truth is a blessing but to live the truth has an even greater impact upon other people. Paul says that we are living epistles (letters) which can be seen and read by other people, without them even having been to one of our worship services or having heard us offer praises to God.

The best opportunities we have to lift up God is when problems or controversial circumstances turn up in our lives, that is when the true "I" comes out. Our daily lives should give honour to God and show people "the hope of glory" which is in us. On the job, in school, in our free-time, people should be able to see the work of God in our life style. It is not always easy, however with the power of God in our lives (the Holy Spirit in us) it is possible.

May God give us a desire and determination to live the "message" and not only proclaim it, so that we do not only praise God, but rather that we are God's praise upon this earth, sw